speed by timing the output of a double-spaced, typewritten, all-text document on letter-size paper. PC Magazine worked with QualityLogic (www.qualitylogic.com) to develop performance tests using documents and applications that mimic typical home and office usage instead.

Through the use of an LED sensor, QualityLogic's PageSense 3.0 tracks and logs specific data points, such as RTA (return to application timewhen control of the mouse returns after someone selects the Print command) and LPO (last page outwhen the printer ejects the last page of a document). Before giving the total durationthe time required to output the entire test suite of documentswe show the breakdown of printer timings by application and document type.

Microsoft Excel 2000. We used three Excel documents of varying lengths that include myriad charts and graphs in different page orientations. In the 1-page chart, maintaining the half-point rules on a solid black background proved a challenge for many printers.

Microsoft Word 2000. We printed a 12-page document from this popular Office standard to stress each printer's ability to output a wide range of typefaces and formatting, along with graphics and embedded elements such as charts and graphs.

Microsoft PowerPoint 2000. This presentation program provided a typical slide show with template backgrounds. The documents were heavy on both vector and bitmap elements.

Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0. Our Acrobat test used a two-page PDF brochure, heavy on graphics. We chose this program for its universal appeal. The Portable Document Format is used increasingly as a means of providing product documentation, often as a downloadable file on a Web site.

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